I love this Sunday - there are no two ways about it. The music ranks right up next to Easter itself (the people belted it out; and the fabulous trumpet was the icing on the cake). The solemn transition from the Procession with Palms to the Service of the Word with the veiling of the crosses; the St. Matthew Passion; the confirmations and the ringing of the great church bell as hands are laid upon each head; and the joyous celebration of the Sacrament and first communions - words fail.
Carol told me today that she asked her husband's brother (a Roman Catholic) how he liked the service. He said he loved it - just like their old service (I think he was referring to pre-Vatican II - and I take that as a compliment indeed).
The solemnity of a Lutheran Eucharist IS a beautiful thing to behold and participate in - the chanting of the proper preface, the chanting of Our Father and its doxology, the chanting of the Words of Christ with elevation and genuflection. All of the ceremony bespeaks the reverence which the Holy Church seeks to nurture in all her children as they approach the dread mystery of Christ's body and blood. We are, in the Divine Service, after all, coram Deo.
To You before Your Passion
They sang their hymns of praise.
To You now high exalted
Our melodies we raise!
12 comments:
When I was Catholic I often heard other Catholics remark at how reverent Lutheran worship is.
Blessed Holy Week to all.
Christine
My Mom's Roman Catholic friends made similar comments about our old Service (TLH 15) when I was a kid.
I'm glad my congregation is going to use DS3 for the seven Sundays of Easter!
How is it like pre-V2? What I mean is, who can tell since that was all Latin?
Actually, Jen, the US Bishops released a vernacular of the liturgy I think in 1963 that rather carefully translated the Latin (more like us than like the current translations Rome uses); I'll bet he had experienced that.
Ooo! How popular was it? I mean, how many churches used that? What's it called? Is it on the internet?
Mine is called: *Parish Mass Book and Hymnal* - it is remarkably like the LSB in its wording. For example, here's the antiphon for the Introit for Ad Te Levavi:
To You I lift up my soul; in You, O God, I trust; Let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me
Here's ours:
To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust; let me not be be put to shame. Let not my enemies exult over me.
The new Roman Liturgy doesn't even HAVE Ad Te Levavi!
On how popular was it? I do not know for certain, but I think it was actually quite popular going by the way I've heard folks talk nostalgically about it. But after the Council the version of the Mass that came out was REALLY changed. For example, the Introits were wiped out; the Kyrie could be joined into the Confession; the Roman Canon could be replaced by three other prayers; the historic church year was altered (and the historic readings were abolished); so many other changes. It was hard to recognize it as the same critter. Sasse, who had held out great hope for the Council's liturgical reforms, ended up declaring that it looked like St. Zwingli presided over the reform of the Mass. Sad.
Did the vernacular mass have a name/title? (Not a hymnal/service book.) Like mass of St. so-n-so?
I have a friend who was raised RC and likes the current liturgy (if you can call it that) because of it's looseness and familiarity to her. It boggles my mind because it seems so empty. There's nothing to object to because so little is confessed. I've tried to say that I thought that Zion was like pre-V2, but in english... but I was just speculating.
Fr. William,
I agree with you. I really love this Sunday. All of them really, but this is a beautiful one. At one of my churches, the organist played the flute while we processed in with the palms. I enjoyed that even more than trumpets, though we often have those for Christmas and Easter Sunday. As an aside, we confirm on Holy Saturday so that does not happen this Sunday but I think we will ring the bell as I lay hands on each confirmand.
Fr. Benjamin
Odessa, Correll, and Rural Appleton, MN ;-)
Sasse, who had held out great hope for the Council's liturgical reforms, ended up declaring that it looked like St. Zwingli presided over the reform of the Mass. Sad.
Speaking from experience -- Sasse was right.
Sad indeed.
Christine
Fr. Benjamin,
There is something about that old custom of ringing the bell at Confirmations. I lay hands on and speak the child's name, and the bell sounds, and then the rest of the blessing.
And did you notice how LSB uses the exact same blessing as at Baptism? The LAST time they had that prayer said over them they were wet from the watery grave of Christ. A powerful link back to Baptism. AND it shows up again in the anointing of the sick - which I was privileged to do this afternoon. Same blessing! And it shows up each Easter Vigil too.
Dear Pastor Weedon,
I agree that our present translation of the Mass is bland to say the least.
Please Google The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and then hit Departments and then Liturgy. There you will see listed "the Order of Mass."
This is the new Mass translation that will replace the present one in about 3 years. It is a great improvement.
A Blessed Easter to you and your congregation.
Fr. Martin Gerber
Post a Comment